Formalin: Just ask for it

Location: A chemical store in Dhaka's Mitford locality.

Youth: Hello. Do you have formaldehyde?

Seller: (With a quizzical look) formaldehyde... what do you mean? Formalin?

Youth: Yes... do you have it? I need it.

Seller: I do. But I can't give it to you.

Youth: Why?

Seller: Aren't you aware of what's happening over formalin? Police are causing so much trouble.

Youth: But I need it.

Seller: (After a pause) What do you do?

Youth: I'm a student.

Seller: Show your identity card.

Youth: I lost my ID card.

Seller: Then why have you come to buy formalin without an ID card? Both of us will be in trouble if police catch you.

Youth: Why will you be in trouble?

Seller: Won't I be in trouble if you tell police that you purchased formalin from my store? What subject are you studying?

Youth: Microbiology.

Seller: Get a written recommendation from one of your teachers.

Youth: He (teacher) is out of the country at the moment. I'm not sure when he'll be back.

Seller: How much do you need?

Youth: A litre will do.

Seller: I don't have a problem selling it to you, but I'll be in trouble if police catch you.

Youth: You'll be in trouble if I tell them your name. [Don't worry,] I won't tell your name or anything about your shop.

Seller: (Silent for a while) Okay. I can sell it to you but won't give any memo.

Youth: I won't need a memo. I just need the thing. But fix the dilution.

Seller: Okay. (He hands out a one-litre bottle of formalin.) If police ask you what's inside, just tell them it is lotion water. Okay?

Youth: Okay.

This correspondent purchased formalin ready to be used on fishes, vegetables and fruits. A day after buying the formalin, he contacts a fruit vendor to learn about its use at the ground-level.

Location: a fruit vendor's shop at Mohammadpur's Krishi Market.

Correspondent: How are you doing?

Seller: (With a smile) So so. It's been a while.

Correspondent

: (Pointing to mangoes on the display) I have to buy mangoes. But tell me, did you mix formalin with these mangoes?

Seller

: No. You can take them, they are fresh.

Correspondent

: Please don't lie in Ramadan.

Seller

: Look, we don't mix formalin [with fruits]. The lessees spray the mangoes before plucking them and we are the one blamed for it.

Correspondent

: It doesn't matter who mixes formalin. It's me who'll die eating your mangoes. Where will I get you or the lessees then?

Seller

: How much do you need?

Correspondent

: Three kilogrammes.

Seller

: Don't worry. These mangoes arrived this morning. They're fresh.

Correspondent

: Okay then. By the way, do you know how formalin is mixed with fruits?

Seller

: I heard it is mixed with water and then sprayed [on the perishables].

Correspondent

: Can you tell me how many mangoes I can spray with a litre of formalin?

Seller

: (Weighs the mangoes) you can spray 250 mango trees with that amount.

Location

: Mokarram Bhaban, Curzon Hall, Dhaka University.

On the third day, this correspondent speaks with Professor Sitesh Chandra Bhaumik of the pharmacy department on the application and use of formalin.

Correspondent

: (After identifying himself) Sir, a lot is being written on formalin. I need your help in writing a special report on the issue.

Dr Bhaumik:

Okay, very good. What sort of help do you want?

Correspondent

: I have a few questions on the matter.

Dr Bhaumik:

Go ahead.

Correspondent

: We don't know much about formalin. Would you mind telling us a few things...

Dr Bhaumik:

Formaldehyde or formalin is a chemical liquid which delays the decomposition process of any perishable. That's why it is used in various scientific researches. Formaldehyde is diluted with water in various ratio as per research requirements.

Concentrated formaldehyde liquid has 37 percent formalin.

Correspondent

: In that case, could you please tell me how much formalin is mixed with fishes or fruits to keep them fresh in the city's vegetable markets?

Dr Bhaumik

: As far as I know, traders usually use 5 to 10 percent diluted formalin on fishes, vegetables and fruits to keep them fresh.

Correspondent

: So, will formalin lose its effect if the contaminated goods is properly washed or cooked?

Dr Bhaumik

: See, properly washing something will remove only a small amount of formalin on the outside. But, formalin's characteristic is that it penetrates the product from the moment it is applied on fishes or fruits. As a result, the formalin inside the product cannot be destroyed no matter how properly you wash or cook it.

Correspondent:

What will be the side effects if one consumes products mixed with the amount of formalin (5 to 10 percent diluted) you just mentioned?

Dr Sitesh:

There won't be any side effect in a day or two or even a week. However, researches show that if anyone continues to take food with this amount of formalin, his chances of being stricken by cancer will increase. Kidneys will gradually become ineffective.

One of the key reasons why the risk of cancer is increasing in Dhaka is because we are regularly eating formalin-mixed foods.

Correspondent

: I have a litre of formalin with me. May I have them tested at the pharmacy department to see the percentage of formalin?

Dr Bhaumik

: I'm afraid you can't. The machine that was used for the tests in our lab isn't working. You better go to the BCSIR.

Correspondent:

Thank you.

Dr Bhaumik:

You're welcome.

This correspondent went to the Designated Reference Institute for Chemical Measurement (DRICM) of the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) the following day.

Although the test was completed that day, it took three days for the final report to reach this correspondent because it had to pass through a maze of regulations.

The report showed that the sample contained five percent formalin.

This correspondent spoke to DRICM project coordinator Dr Mala Khan.

Correspondent: How can I apply this sample on fishes of fruits?

Dr Khan

: It's been diluted in a way that you can use it directly [on the products].

Correspondent

: How long will a fish look fresh if I use this?

Dr Khan

: More than 19 hours than usual.